Four months after picking up a shotgun for the first time, 11-year-old Jon Michael McGrath from Tulsa broke 122 clays out of 125 to capture a gold medal in the World Skeet Championship.

It all began in June of 2003 when McGrath went to the Boy Scout Camp Tom Hale near Talihina, Oklahoma. One day of the weeklong summer camp was a free day, where scouts could participate in their choice of activities, and Michael wanted to shoot a shotgun.

After learning about gun safety, acquiring safety glasses and hearing protection he went to the range. Shooting instructor told McGrath’s father that the youngster had some natural skills and that they should consider taking him to a skeet range.

His parents contacted Tulsa Gun Club and spoke with Harold "Skeeter" Radke, who is the club manager and President of the Oklahoma Skeet Shooters Association. The new shooter couldn’t wait to shoot his first round of skeet and a week later he did. His score was 20 out of 25.

"This is unheard of, for an 11-year-old kid who has only been shooting for four months to go down to the World Skeet Championship and win," said Harry Proffitt, a skeet shooting enthusiast from Kansas City. "This is a game of all ages. Some people compete their whole life and try to earn a medal at the World Skeet Championship, and Jon Michael went down for his first time and came home with a sack full of medals. Jon Michael is very respectful of people and is a joy to be around."

The World Skeet Championship was held last fall in San Antonio, Texas. In the 12-gauge event McGrath posted an unbelievable 122 out of 125 and was awarded the World Championship Gold Medal for the E Class 12 Gauge Competition. He also tied for first in both the 20 gauge and 28 gauge events, but missed targets in the shoot offs. At the end of the World Skeet Championship, McGrath was awarded bronze medals in High Overall (513 out of 550) and High All Around (603 out of 650).

The Tulsa phenom also won state championships in Oklahoma and Kansas prior to competing in the World Skeet Shooting Championship. He earned a chance at the Oklahoma state championship in 12 gauge by shooting his first straight of 25 out of 25 with a final score of 90 out of 100, to tie John McCharen, 33, from Nichols Hills. McGrath won the title outright in a shoot-off by breaking a double in the first round when McCharen broke only one of the two targets.

In the Kansas State Skeet Shooters Association Championship, held in September, even heavy rains couldn’t deter McGrath. The young shooter didn’t waver and won the D-Class event in both 20 gauge and .410 bore. At that point his personal best was 91 out of 100 in .410 bore.

It could be overwhelming for anyone going so far in so little time, but McGrath is taking it all in stride.

"It is fun to meet people from all over the world and compete with them. This sport is something you can enjoy for a lifetime," McGrath said. "I would encourage anyone who has an interest in the shooting sports to pursue it. Skeet shooting is a blast."

For more information about shooting sports and to find a skeet range near you, log onto wheretoshoot.org.

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